source | MMAFighting.com CM Punk’s UFC debut has been delayed. The former WWE champion turned MMA fighter is scheduled to undergo back surgery in Chicago on Wednesday due to a herniated disc, MMAFighting.com has learned. Punk, née Phil Brooks, has been battling a lingering back injury from his years as …

source | ESPN “Our biggest thing is we want him to 101 percent before [we resuming training]. We don’t have a hard date for his fight to force the issue, so making sure he’s completely healthy is possible.” Roufus has repeatedly stated he wants Punk completely prepared before stepping into …

source | FoxSports.com “I definitely think part of that is what influenced this. There’s a lot of guys in pro wrestling that just kind of have this MMA fantasy and they never act on it. I’m acting on it,” Punk told FOX Sports recently. “I don’t want to be one …

source | MMAJunkie.com “From my point of view, I have the easiest job in the world,” Brooks told MMAjunkie during a media session on Friday. “I just have to train every day and bust my ass every day. … Literally it’s the easiest job in the world to me. All …

source | MMAJunkie.com “When someone decides to come into the UFC and they don’t have a combat sports background, you’re kind of thinking, does he really understand what he’s getting into?” Askren told MMAjunkie. “But I think he gets it. I think he’s taking it very seriously.” “Obviously, they’re …

source | MMAJunkie.com “He hasn’t trained with the team yet,” Pettis told MMAjunkie. “He’s doing private lessons with Duke and my jiu-jitsu coach. We don’t want to scare him away. But I’m not discrediting him because he’s definitely a great athlete. It’s just when it comes to MMA you’ve got …

source | MMAJunkie.com “My attitude with CM Punk is: good, why not?” Cerrone said. “The guy did what he had to do. He’s got money. He doesn’t need to come to the UFC. So that’s just like a challenge he’s doing on his own. It’s not like he’s hurting and …

source | MMAFighting.com Cole Miller doesn’t just think CM Punk will be adequate as a UFC fighter, he thinks the former WWE star will be a winner. “I think he’ll do very well,” Miller said. “I don’t think he’s trying to make a 10-year career out of this. But he’s …

source | ESPN.Go “I suppose the easy answer to what Brock’s shortcomings were that he probably needed to spar more,” Brooks told ESPN.com. “Everyone always likes to say Brock hated getting hit in the face. I don’t know who likes getting hit in the face, but I guess he did …

“Who I fight isn’t 100 percent up to me. I don’t think it’s 100 percent up to any fighter. That’s what the [UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva’s of the world are for. Would I fight Nate Diaz? This is where he takes it out of context. Yea, I would fight anybody …

“Well, thanks for calling me an athlete, Matt,” he said as transcribed by Zane Simon for BE. “I appreciate it.” “I’m not sure I have a response for Matt. I’m a fan of Matt … One of my favorite fights last year was Matt Brown vs. Erick Silva. I thought …

source | SevereMMA “As far as the CM Punk ting, he has a different fanbase – the W W E fans. To be honest, it’s weird to me to let an amateur come in, and do it in the pro game. I mean who knows what his skill level is …